Picture frame and mounting.



PATBNTED JUNE 12, 1906.

I I. B..STOVEL. PICTURE FRAME AND MOUNTING.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.10 ,1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK B. STOVEL, or TORONTO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF 'ro oHARLE-s J. STOVEL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12, 1906.

Application filed March 10, 1905. Serial No 249,486.

To all w/wm it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK Bmcoon STOVEL, a British subject, residing at T0- ronto, Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Picture Frames and Mountings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the mounting and framing of pictures; and my object is to produce a style of framing and mounting composed of the cheapest materials, requiring no mechanical joining or securing, neat and attractive in appearance, and strong and durable in construction.

A mounting or framing according to my invention is embodied in the loose assemblage of a picture, a mat for the same, preferably a transparent sheet, and an inolosing envelop which can be and preferably is made of paper and which is applied to the looselyassembled parts, so as to hold them securely in proper position. This envelop when so applied will have all the appearance of a raised picture-frame of attractive appearance.

An embodiment of my invention is hereinafter described and is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a framed picture, the picture and its overlapping mat being partially broken away. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the framed and mounted picture. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the open foldable envelop which forms the exterior of the frame or mounting. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the entire mounting with all parts assembled and the envelop ready for folding and securing.

In the drawings, 1 represents a photograph or other picture, and 2 a cardboard mat having the usual round, oval, or rectangular opening. The mat overlies the margin of the picture in the ordinary way. A transparent sheet 3, made of any suitable material-such as lass, isinglass, or celluloidis preferably laid upon the mat so as to protect the picture and permit it to be observed. A flat sheet 4, of ordinary cardboard or pasteboard, represents a backing for the picture used in case the latter is thin and fragile, like a photographic print. I may use a loose piece of cardboard in the case of an unmounted photograph or other flexible pic-- ture where it performs the oflice of the ordinary card mounting. In the case of a mounted photograph or a reasonably stiff picture such a separate piece is not required. In any case the card backing, mat, and trans parent sheet are substantially the same dimensions. In Fig. 4 the picture is mounted on the part 4. These parts are assembled loosely together in proper order and without any fastening or securing devices between or among themselves. They are held in position by a separate envelop, which forms the frame and which I prefer to make of moderately heavy paper adapted to bend easily without cracking, and although, as before stated, the inclosed parts themselves are loosely assembled the envelop holds them securely together and produces a sufficiently firm and rigid structure.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the envelop is formed in one piece cut out to such an extent that the opening formed is considerably larger than the opening in the mat,

so that the latter is displayed, as shown in Fig. 1. The paper is further out so as to produce the side flaps 5, the short lower end flaps 6, and the long upper or covering flaps 7. When these flaps are bent back'wardly, as indicated in Fig. 3 and as shown in Fig. 2, the assembled parts are completely covered at the back. The side flaps are first turned down, then the short end flaps, and, finally, the covering-flaps. At the corners of the opening in the envelop are short diagonal slits producing two narrow interior side flaps 8 and two similar interior end flaps 9. An open reinforcing frame 10 of some stiffer ma terial than the envelop, such as cardboard, is secured to the envelop. Its sides and ends are about of the width of the interior flaps p and its dimensions substantially coincide with the creases formed by bending the eX- terior flaps 5, 6, and 7. The interior flaps are turned outwardly behind this frame, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and are securely gummed to it. This reinforcement stiffens the envelop and also gives it the appearance of a raised frame. The transparent sheet, mat, and icture assembled in proper order are placed in position immediately behind the frame 10, the flaps 5 are turned down be hind the picture, the flap 6 is then. turned down and gummed to the flaps 5, and, finally, the covering-flap 7 is turned down and gummed to the flap 6. Grummed surfaces may be used. The upper end of the covering-flap may, if desired, be provided with means for suspension, such as the ring 11, attached in any suitable way, as by the tapes 12, secured by guinming or otherwise to the said covering-flap.

It will be seen in Fig. 1 that the only part of the envelop exposed to view has all the appearance of a raised picture-frame. By the use of such cheap materials as I have described and with good taste in the selection of colors for envelops and mats very attractive and artistic results can be produced in framing pictures at exceeding small cost. Other advantages lie in the simplicity of the structure and in the absence of mechanical devices for joinin and securing the parts, so that no especial c egree of skill is required to produce the device. It is only necessary to assemble a picture, a mat, and a transparent sheet, to out the blank envelop, and to fold and secure the latter around the assembled parts.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination with a picture, its mat, and a transparent sheet, all loosely assembled, of an envelop having a display-opening larger than the opening in the mat and in wardly-projecting foldable flaps at the edges of said opening, a stiffening-frame to which said flaps are secured, the dimensions of said frame being the same as the dimensions of the picture, said envelop having outwardlyprojecting side flaps, a short end flap and a long end flap having suspending means secured to the end thereof, said long end flap being of substantially the length of the picture, said outwardly-projecting flaps being adapted to be folded down behind the picture to hold the picture with its mat and transparent sheet against the stiffeningframe, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature,in presence of two witnesses, this 20th day of February, 1905.

FREDERICK B. STOVEL.

Witnesses:

E. MERNER, D. S. TovELL. 

